Zodiak tell its ‘side of story’ to Macra over Kamlepo interview

Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) said it presented its side of the story when the broadcaster’s two representative met officials of Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) after being h summoned over remarks Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament vice-chairperson Kamlepo Kalua made during an interview with the radio.

Macra spokesperson Clara Mwafulirwa: Board will make a determination

Teresa Ndanga, director of news at Zodiak, said Macra through its director-general Godfrey Itaye invited the radio station to a meeting in Blantyre and they were provided with “a platform” to give their side of the story.

“So we gave our side of the story,” said Ndanga whose comments were concise.

Macra had a full powered team led by Itaye, deputy director of broadcasting Kelton Masangano and Willie Soko the broadcasting monitoring officer.

The regulator’s spokesperson Clara Mwafulirwa said the board will determine the way forward.

In his letter summoning the private broadcaster, Itaye said Macra found Zodiak in contravention with the Communications Act.

Macra alleges that in the interview that ZBS aired, Kalua, who is also third vice-president of opposition People’s Party (PP), made allegations that the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) wants to start shedding blood, purportedly, of people deemed to be attacking or opposing government.

Itaye made reference to what Kalua was said to have alleged in the interview that the DPP regime killed student Robert Chasowa, United Democratic Front (UDF) regime killed musician Evison Matafale and Fanikiso Phiri, another student and that DPP wants to shed blood again.

Tereza Ndanga represented Zodiak at Macra meeting

Chasowa, a University of Malawi The Polytechnic third year engineering student and political activist, was found dead at the college campus in September 2011, Matafale died in November 2001 under police custody after he had written a letter attacking the Bakili Muluzi regime, while Phiri was fatally shot by police following students’ riots at Chancellor College in December 2001.

Investigations were established for all the three deaths, but no logical conclusion has been reached yet.

The Macra letter further reads: “We also fault the interviewer for lacking journalistic judgement by allowing Kamlepo Kalua to make sensitive remarks without being directed or controlled.”

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19 thoughts on “Zodiak tell its ‘side of story’ to Macra over Kamlepo interview”

This battle is not between Zodiak and Macra – It’s between Kaliati and Kamlepo. Nde poti njobvu zikamamenyana umapwetekeka ndi udzu……we are in democratic world with free speech. so ZBS is free to air anybody they like without being intimidated by Govt.

Zodiak is not independent ,say the truth its where. The opposition have the platform. To insult the Government,ever since. They have never said anything good ,even. Development news no, they are like Vultures ,they go for the rotten. Carcass ignoring. The fresh ones, they are funded by people who want the presidency and you call them independent.let MACCRA do its job according to its rules

1st thing 1st, as a regulator MACRA to summon MBC tv, then ZBS tv. Kaliati uses abusive languages on the state run TV station but MACRA has never complained. So MACRA, WHY ALL THIS FUSS then. Zopanda nzeru zimene mukunena apazi. Akupatsani ndalama abomawa eti?

With the coming in of ZBC and other truly independent radios millions stopped listening to lies from your MBC. So if you call yourself a communication regular please don’t you dare punish ZBS. You know pretty well that the radio is of high international repute. If anything MBC is the one that deserves to be reprimanded for keeping feeding shit into the ears of Malawians. Stop being bootlickers and hand clappers.

To ZBC I say, don’t fear these agents of the devil, the sons and daughters of vipers. They cannot supress the truth because truth sets all of us free. MACRA is still in bondage and let them remain there while everybody else is moving forward.

MACRA DPP, what nonsense are you doing, we’re watching you and your term will also come to an end that’s when you’ll realize that what you were doing was bad, why don’t you close your foolish M.B.C DPP,

It is only in Malawi that a person who was selling Malawi Gin at Malawi Distilleries Limited can be a Director of an important body such as MACRA. Godfrey Itaye is dull and I am not sure he even has an MSCE certificate. I know he did a useless course in marketing. The Only qualification that he has is being Alomwe. Wake up APM,the people you are putting in critical position will cost you and the country dearly